Blown Cellulose VS Blown Fiberglass in the Attic - Home Energy Pros2015-08-02T22:30:01Zhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/forum/topics/blown-cellulose-vs-blown-fiberglas-in-the-attic?commentId=6069565%3AComment%3A68514&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noGreat site for those living i…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2014-11-01:6069565:Comment:1690792014-11-01T20:43:25.132ZMorgan Hunterhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/MorganHunter
<p>Great site for those living in Alaska and building on Permafrost.</p>
<p>Great site for those living in Alaska and building on Permafrost.</p> Chris, to what are you referr…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2014-11-01:6069565:Comment:1690762014-11-01T19:50:26.164ZPatrick Michaelyanhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/PatrickMichaelyan
<p>Chris, to what are you referring to as the Kool Aid?</p>
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<p>If you are referring to cellulose then I suggest you get out in the field and blow a few attics with the best loose-fill fiberglass (something like OC L77) and cellulose (something like National Fiber CEL-PAK). Test the results and tell me how you feel (physically) after working with each.</p>
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<p>I and many others know what we are talking about, and not because some study or some Doc told us (not to disparage Dr.…</p>
<p>Chris, to what are you referring to as the Kool Aid?</p>
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<p>If you are referring to cellulose then I suggest you get out in the field and blow a few attics with the best loose-fill fiberglass (something like OC L77) and cellulose (something like National Fiber CEL-PAK). Test the results and tell me how you feel (physically) after working with each.</p>
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<p>I and many others know what we are talking about, and not because some study or some Doc told us (not to disparage Dr. Energy Saver). Fiberglass has its place...I use FG batts in quite a few applications, but I ardently feel that loose-fill FG is simply inferior to loose-fill cellulose.</p>
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<p>This discussion is honestly a waste of all our time. Seal up your building components well and then it really doesn't matter what you insulate with as long as it's done right. </p>
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<p>P.S. I took my 1904 bungalow, sucked out all the old nasty formaldehyde-ridden insulation and debris, and went for what I believed would be a cost-effective solution for decades to come. Knauf EcoBatt insulation in the walls and in the attic, closed-cell spray foam for air leakage locations, and foil-faced polyiso board on top of the wall sheathing. I still do not have heat in my house, and plan to forgo AC. I am pretty darn comfortable now, and was so throughout most of the summer in Arlington, VA.</p>
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<p>My point: I am not "sold" on any product or technique, but am rather convinced that a portfolio of products and techniques combined with intelligent design get the job done. Any issues with this line of thinking?</p>
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<p>Patrick</p> Keep drinking the cool aidtag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2014-11-01:6069565:Comment:1688952014-11-01T16:32:32.484ZChris Leachhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/ChrisLeach
Keep drinking the cool aid
Keep drinking the cool aid The Cold Climate Housing Rese…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2014-10-24:6069565:Comment:1687612014-10-24T16:29:20.320ZChris Clayhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/ChrisClay
<p>The Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, AK has alot of information about this topic.</p>
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<p>The Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, AK has alot of information about this topic.</p>
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<p></p> Hi Isaiah,
I have experience…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2014-10-23:6069565:Comment:1688092014-10-23T18:58:19.378ZBen Jacobshttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/BenJacobs
<p>Hi Isaiah,</p>
<p>I have experience with both fiberglass and cellulose. I think that cellulose is better. Dr. Energy Saver on Youtube.com has a video to explain the differences. See info below.</p>
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<p><strong><font face="Times New Roman">Why Cellulose Insulation is Better than Fiberglass Insulation </font><font face="Times New Roman">See video on Youtube.com Dr. Energy Saver</font></strong></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"> …</font></p>
<p>Hi Isaiah,</p>
<p>I have experience with both fiberglass and cellulose. I think that cellulose is better. Dr. Energy Saver on Youtube.com has a video to explain the differences. See info below.</p>
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<p><strong><font face="Times New Roman">Why Cellulose Insulation is Better than Fiberglass Insulation </font><font face="Times New Roman">See video on Youtube.com Dr. Energy Saver</font></strong></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><a title="http://www.drenergysaver.com" href="http://www.drenergysaver.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">http://www.drenergysaver.com</font></a><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> <br/></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> <br/> On episode 50 of the "On The Job" web series, Larry Janesky, owner and founder of Dr. Energy Saver, demonstrates how different types of insulation materials perform when exposed to fire. <br/> <br/> In Episode 51, he continues to compare insulation materials, by showing the differences in performance of two types of materials commonly used in attic and wall cavity insulation: fiberglass and cellulose. Fiberglass insulation is frequently used in the United States, but as this video will show, cellulose insulation outperforms fiberglass in the vast majority of applications.<br/> <br/> Cellulose insulation is entirely made of recycled paper: old newspapers, phone books, and paper stock. To make that shredded paper suitable as an insulation material, the cellulose is treated with environmentally-friendly chemicals. In its original state, cellulose is very attractive to insects and known to support mold growth. Boric acid, a harmless chemical used for decades in many household applications as an antiseptic and insect repellent, is used to deter pests and prevent mold growth. <br/> <br/> Also since paper is highly flammable, cellulose insulation is treated with a fire-retardant material, making it outperform most types of insulation materials, including fiberglass, in terms of fire resistance.<br/> <br/> Using a little display built to compare cellulose and fiberglass, Larry shows how quickly and easily heat passes through a layer of fiberglass insulation when compared to a layer of cellulose insulation. Cellulose is denser than fiberglass and that gives the material a better R-value and makes it better at preventing heat transfer. That kind of performance makes all the difference during hot summer months when you are trying to keep the scorching heat from the attic from getting into your living space, or during cold days when you are trying to keep the heat from the conditioned area from being transferred to the freezing cold attic.</font></p>
<p></p> Up here In Canada Fibreglass…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2014-10-18:6069565:Comment:1682942014-10-18T16:17:51.828ZMorgan Hunterhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/MorganHunter
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<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Up here In Canada Fibreglass wins hands down for heat loss!</font></p>
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<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Check back 5, 10 &amp; 20 years later on your Cellulous blown attic spaces, in all our inspections the Cellulous had settled 300-400% in all attics, good grief in most cases we could see the top truss cord, that's R12 or less!…</font></p>
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<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Up here In Canada Fibreglass wins hands down for heat loss!</font></p>
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<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Check back 5, 10 &amp; 20 years later on your Cellulous blown attic spaces, in all our inspections the Cellulous had settled 300-400% in all attics, good grief in most cases we could see the top truss cord, that's R12 or less!</font></p>
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<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">All insulations work due to air entrapment and once settled all insulation has reduced properties.</font></p>
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<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">WE are currently re-blowing many attics using the new pink, which doesn’t settle due to moisture or any other reason is 100% recycled and dust free and does a much better job of entrapping air and keeping those air pockets for the life of the insulation. </font></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">This December from the outside using a heat loss gun check both attics, and a few older jobs you will get the picture.</font></p>
<p></p> Given your list of allergies,…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2014-10-02:6069565:Comment:1674892014-10-02T20:15:56.505ZJohn Nicholashttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/JohnNicholas
<p>Given your list of allergies, molds and rodents loving it, you are not using the cellulose we are discussing. You are also selling a different product that may or may not be the best for the home owner.</p>
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<p>I know everyone sells what is on their shelf. Not everyone benefits if you only have one product on your shelf.</p>
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<p>Given your list of allergies, molds and rodents loving it, you are not using the cellulose we are discussing. You are also selling a different product that may or may not be the best for the home owner.</p>
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<p>I know everyone sells what is on their shelf. Not everyone benefits if you only have one product on your shelf.</p>
<p></p> It's Me again. Sorry to swim…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2014-09-27:6069565:Comment:1672642014-09-27T22:47:15.198ZBpb Farmerhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/BpbFarmer
<p>It's Me again. Sorry to swim against the flow but cellulose is a disaster. Dusty, causes allergies, asthma, molds, settles losing R-value, rodents love it, bridges when blown into existing walls, soaks moisture and on and on. Fiber glass is just about as bad and I see fiber glass being the next asbestos. Neither stop air permeation, neither seal any thing, Neither act as a fire barrier both are a waste of money.</p>
<p>Guys, come forth into the 21st century, do your research. Injection foam…</p>
<p>It's Me again. Sorry to swim against the flow but cellulose is a disaster. Dusty, causes allergies, asthma, molds, settles losing R-value, rodents love it, bridges when blown into existing walls, soaks moisture and on and on. Fiber glass is just about as bad and I see fiber glass being the next asbestos. Neither stop air permeation, neither seal any thing, Neither act as a fire barrier both are a waste of money.</p>
<p>Guys, come forth into the 21st century, do your research. Injection foam for existing cavities and spray foam for open cavities.Telling people that the cellulose and fiber glass is the answer is doing a disservice</p>
<p>Quality foam is the only way to go.. </p> My experience with cellulose…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2011-11-30:6069565:Comment:698412011-11-30T17:34:09.837ZPatrick Michaelyanhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/PatrickMichaelyan
<p>My experience with cellulose began when I started to participate in the state of Massachusetts' home energy programs.</p>
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<p>Cellulose was mandated for attics and other spaces. Before this, I had only seen blown-in fiberglass in the new home construction industry. Well, I am glad the folks in Massachusetts mandated the use of cellulose.</p>
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<p>The material is more eco-friendly, it has proven to have a slower burn rate in tests (compared to all other insulation materials),…</p>
<p>My experience with cellulose began when I started to participate in the state of Massachusetts' home energy programs.</p>
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<p>Cellulose was mandated for attics and other spaces. Before this, I had only seen blown-in fiberglass in the new home construction industry. Well, I am glad the folks in Massachusetts mandated the use of cellulose.</p>
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<p>The material is more eco-friendly, it has proven to have a slower burn rate in tests (compared to all other insulation materials), it can serve as a partial air seal, and the dust issues can be reduced with certain strategies.</p>
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<p>Let me also say that I am the foreman\super on all my company's insulation jobs, and I can tell you that (with proper air sealing performed prior to installing loose-fill cellulose insulation) there is no real comparison you can make when it comes to overall effectiveness of cellulose versus fiberglass.</p>
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<p>In the end, one cannot stress enough the need to perform thorough air sealing of any space you wish to install blown-in insulation for.</p> Oh yeah, I'm a nerd. At big O…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2011-11-25:6069565:Comment:689932011-11-25T22:06:35.541ZChris Heenanhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/ChrisHeenan
<p>Oh yeah, I'm a nerd. At big Orange store today and stopped to read Fiberglass blow in package.</p>
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<p>And I quote</p>
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<div class="clearfix"><div class="grid7 first" id="app-detail"><p>Another method of insulating your attic is our loosefill insulation. Instead of laying batts or rolls, our AttiCat<sup>®</sup> Insulation Blowing Machine conditions the AttiCat<sup>®</sup> Expanding Blown-In PINK<sup>®</sup> Fiberglas<sup>™</sup> Insulation by fluffing it along…</p>
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<p>Oh yeah, I'm a nerd. At big Orange store today and stopped to read Fiberglass blow in package.</p>
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<p>And I quote</p>
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<div class="clearfix"><div id="app-detail" class="grid7 first"><p>Another method of insulating your attic is our loosefill insulation. Instead of laying batts or rolls, our AttiCat<sup>®</sup> Insulation Blowing Machine conditions the AttiCat<sup>®</sup> Expanding Blown-In PINK<sup>®</sup> Fiberglas<sup>™</sup> Insulation by fluffing it along the length of the hose, adding millions of the tiny air pockets that give the material its insulating power. Because Fiberglas<sup>™</sup> insulation will not settle, it will maintain the same energy-saving level over time, keeping your home comfortable for years to come.</p>
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<p>Mmmm. Fiberglas the maker says will not settle.</p>
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<p>Why?</p>